Blog Posting #10: My Chicagoan Friends...

I used to wish that I had moved to Chicago with my friends when I finished up my B.A. in 2004, but now, I really do not know. A couple of weeks ago I imagined myself living in Chicago; I love the air, the city life, transportation, history, diversity, and the opulent opportunities I could have with my MLS. I was just in Chicago this past weekend and all I did was sit in my friends’ apartment playing “Rock Band,” “Guitar Hero,” and “Sing Star” on their game systems.

Every time I go to Chicago my friends have the newest technologies. When the Wii came out a couple of years ago, they were the first people to purchase one. I sat in their apartment in Chicago playing on their iPhone, showing them videos from “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and telling them about my favorite character, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere, and her song “Woe Is Me.” So, why did I even go to Chicago just to sit and play video games, stare at a HD television, watch videos on an iPhone: to be with my friends. Wow, I sound kind of vindictive, but I had so much fun sitting in my friends’ apartment and getting my dose of their videogame systems and newest technologies.

I was even thinking about purchasing an iPhone with my tax return check, but decided against it. Fortunately, my cell phone contract is with Sprint and iPhones are through AT&T currently, so, I would have to break my agreement if I really wanted one (and pay all of that money). How nice would it be, though, to have one’s iPod and cell phone together in the same place? I have enough difficulty locating my cell phone when it is ringing one of Belle and Sebastian’s songs in my purse; a larger device would be easier to find in a bag, though.

So, out of all of the things to do in Chicago, my friends and I sat in an apartment playing videogames. We did go out for dinner and martinis at this place called Dave and Buster’s. I am always sad when I drive down Lake Shore Drive to go home; time in Chicago goes too quickly (especially when one is playing a videogame that has the addiction equivalency of crack).

Blog Posting #9: On Being 27...

I feel very lucky to have experienced both card catalogs and OPACs, integrated library systems, modules, etc. On Sunday, I turned twenty-seven, and although I do not have that much wisdom yet, I would consider myself fortunate to have experienced the influx of technology. I remember being a little girl playing “Simon Says” and enjoying the flashing of the vivid colors, but oh, how the times have changed.

A couple of weeks ago I had friends over for margaritas and to play “Clue” on DVD. I have never played a game like this, so, I thought it would be interesting to see how these interactive board games come to life on one’s DVD player. Honestly, what frightened me the most was the nostalgia and simplicity that was offered with games like “Clue,” “Chutes and Ladders,” “Candyland,” and “Scrabble” on a board. Now, though, it seems like children can no longer experience the minimalist feel of moving their game piece from tile to tile and calculating their money. Hmmm, what a transition that started with game boards to DVD games around the television; what will be next?

So, our wiki is up and running and I can speak for my group in saying that we are relieved. On Friday evening, I sat at the computer for over four hours trying to figure out how to embed widgets on wikispaces. Finally, I figured it out! Now, it seems like all I want to do is search for the “perfect” most “idiosyncratic” widget. On Monday, the client will be emailing me pictures of headstones and the deceased to put embed on the wiki (I have put up filler pictures until we get the actual ones). Our wiki seems to be coming along nicely and I know that I feel more relaxed that we now have a concrete structure on which we can place our work.

Blog Posting #8: I Heart Technology This Week...

Okay, so I had a bit of panic when I heard on the WBNI that this museum in Fort Wayne would be closing at the end of June. I have always enjoyed going to this museum, but what really concerned me was that I am planning on doing my internship there this summer as a cataloging intern. I was so excited when the collection manager responded so quickly to my email about doing an internship there this summer, and was even more enthusiastic when I was offered it.

Right now I am sitting at work, and sometimes I listen to the radio just for background noise. As I was on the phone with a coworker, I heard that the Lincoln Museum was closing. Panic-stricken, I immediately emailed the person for whom I will be interning in the summer. Less than a half-an-hour later she responded to let me know that they were still planning on using an intern during the summer. Hurray; I feel so relieved!

I guess I never really considered the significance of email until I really had to get in contact with someone (without having their phone number). Lucky for me, many of the people I strictly correspond with using email are really good about getting replying in a timely matter. The solace of email; you can write it at all hours of the night and it is in the recipient’s mailbox before one can lose their audacity (and the regret of sending something).

This is why I feel great about technology this week. Perhaps, it is due to the fact that I finally allowed myself to have some fun with technology. On both Saturday and Sunday I went to Best Buy and Circuit City to look at technology. I was hoping that they carried something like a Kindle, but they did not. Then, I decided to use my gift certificate to purchase a computer game (hurray; I have finally allowed myself to have a little virtual fun).